A two-dimensional code reading device which can prolong the lifetime of the auxiliary light is provided. A two-dimensional code reading device in the present invention includes an image reading unit to acquire an image of a two-dimensional code printed on a ticket medium, a specific pattern detector to detect a specific pattern to identify the two-dimensional code from the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit, a two-dimensional code decoder to read information recorded in the two-dimensional code detected by the specific pattern detector, an auxiliary light to irradiate light on the ticket medium and an auxiliary light controller to control turning on and off of the auxiliary light, wherein the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light when the specific pattern is detected by the specific pattern detector and the information recorded in the two-dimensional code cannot be read by the two-dimensional code decoder.
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1. A two-dimensional code reading device comprising: an image reading unit to acquire an image of a two-dimensional code printed on a ticket medium; a specific pattern detector to detect a specific pattern to identify the two-dimensional code from the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit; a two-dimensional code decoder to read information recorded in the two-dimensional code detected by the specific pattern detector; an auxiliary light to irradiate light on the ticket medium; and an auxiliary light controller to control turning on and off of the auxiliary light, wherein the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light when the specific pattern is detected by the specific pattern detector and the information recorded in the two-dimensional code cannot be read by the two-dimensional code decoder, the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit is an image taken by a camera which adjusts the brightness of the image by automatically controlling an exposure time or a gain, and the auxiliary light controller does not turn on the auxiliary light regardless of a detection result of the specific pattern detector and a reading result of the two-dimensional code decoder, when the exposure time with which the camera takes the image is shorter than a predetermined threshold value of the exposure time, or when the gain with which the camera takes the image is smaller than a predetermined threshold value of the gain.
A two-dimensional code reading device scans tickets by using a camera to capture an image of a 2D code. A pattern detector identifies the code within the image. A decoder then reads the information encoded in the 2D code. An auxiliary light illuminates the ticket to improve image quality. An auxiliary light controller normally turns on the light only when the pattern is detected but the code cannot be read. However, the light is not activated if the camera's automatically adjusted exposure time is below a threshold, or if the camera's gain is below a threshold, regardless of whether the pattern is detected or the code can be read. This preserves the life of the auxiliary light.
2. The two-dimensional code reading device according to claim 1 , further comprising an exposure time and gain controller to disable, when the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light, the automatic control of the camera for the exposure time and the gain, to set the camera to use predetermined fixed values on the exposure time and the gain, to make the camera control the exposure time and the gain in accordance with the fixed values, and to make the camera take an image of the two-dimensional code again.
The 2D code reading device from the previous description includes an exposure time and gain controller that, when the auxiliary light turns on, disables the camera's automatic brightness adjustments (exposure time and gain). Instead, the camera is forced to use predetermined, fixed values for exposure and gain. The camera then retakes the image of the 2D code using these fixed settings. This ensures consistent image capture when the auxiliary light is active, improving decoding reliability.
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December 17, 2014
May 9, 2017
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